Detachable protective helmet shield and helmet

ABSTRACT

A helmet is disclosed with a detachable shield that completely envelopes or partially envelopes the helmet. This protective shield is replaceable and removable. When a helmet is scratched or worn, the protective shield may be replaced by a user. The protective shield may also be used to change the color or appearance of a helmet, as well as to alter the strength of the helmet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to helmets, and more particularly relates todetachable implements for helmets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Helmets are well-known in the art. They are used to protect athletes,such as football players, from impacts to the head and neck. They areused to protect constructions workers, motorcyclists, bicyclists,skiers, riot police, and the like. Typically, in most variations, thesehelmets comprise a bulbous polymeric shell of static color and designwith interior padding which is latched around the head of a user.

When a helmet becomes scratched or damaged, it must usually be replacedin its entirety at significant cost to the user or an organizationsponsoring the user, despite the fact most often the damage to thehelmet is only superficial.

Helmets often bear markings associating a user with a particularorganization, such as a logo of a professional football team oruniversity. These logos are usually heat-pressed onto the surface of thehelmet, and are particularly prone to being scratched or damaged. Usersmust usually buy new helmets altogether to associate themselves with adifferent organization, or to color-code the helmet to outerwear vestingthe user.

Additionally, users have no means of adjusting or customizing thethickness, durability, or strength of a helmet to suit a particularpurpose or situation.

There exists no efficient means in the art of replacing only the damagedcomponents of a helmet, of changing the color scheme of a helmet, or ofadjusting its strength. Current methods and apparati do not readily meetthese needs. It is therefore desirable that a helmet be provided whichcan be used by athletes and professionals which does. What is needed isa helmet with a removable, detachable shell, as further disclosedherein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need existsfor a helmet with a detachable protective shield. Beneficially, such anapparatus would overcome many of the difficulties with prior art byproviding a means for properly changing the helmet's color scheme,adjusting its strength, and facilitating quick repair of scratchesand/or cracks.

The present invention has been developed in response to the presentstate of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems andneeds in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currentlyavailable apparati and methods. Accordingly, the present invention hasbeen developed to provide a protective helmet comprising: a helmethaving a smooth convex recessed outer surface for receiving an innersurface of a reciprocally contoured protective shield; a rigiddetachable protective shield for engaging and enveloping the recessedouter surface of the helmet, the protective shield comprising: a concaveinner surface having inner contouring for engaging and abutting thereciprocal contouring on the outer surface of the helmet; wherein theprotective shield defines one or more apertures for receiving screws,the screws affixing the protective shield to the helmet.

The outer surface of the helmet may further comprise one or moreprotrusions insertable into recesses defined on the inner surface of theprotective shield for securing the protective shield when attached tothe helmet.

The protective helmet may be one of a football helmet, a motorcyclehelmet, a skiing helmet, a biking helmet, and a hardhat worn byconstruction workers.

In some embodiments, the protective helmet further comprises a pluralityof detachable protective shields, the protective shields interchangeableby a user at will.

Each protective shield may be of a different color. Each protectiveshield may be of a different thickness and interchangeable to add variestiers of strength to the helmet.

A protective helmet also disclosed comprising: a helmet having a convexrecessed outer surface for receiving an inner surface of a reciprocallycontoured protective shield; and a rigid detachable protective shieldfor engaging and enveloping the recessed outer surface of the helmet,the protective shield comprising: a concave inner surface having innercontouring for engaging and abutting the reciprocal contouring on theouter surface of the helmet.

The protective shield may be detachably affixed to the helmet using oneor more of snaps, Velcro®, adhesive, and screws. The protective shieldmay further comprise a cantilevered lip for engaging and gripping areciprocally contoured edge on the helmet. The protective shield mayfurther comprise a visor jutting forward of the helmet.

In alternate embodiments, the protective shield further comprises agraphic design indicating a user's affiliation with a team. In someembodiments, the protective shield further comprises one or morereflectors.

The protective shield may be transparent and meant to protect the helmetfrom scratching and wear. In some embodiments, the outer surface of thehelmet defines a groove running laterally around the perimeter of thehelmet for receiving or corresponding lip on the inner surface of theprotective shield.

In some embodiments, the protective shield comprises one or more ofpolymeric materials, elastomeric materials, carbon fiber materials,rubber, silastic materials, and metal alloys. The protective shield mayalso be skinned with a multicolored graphic design. The protectiveshield may further comprise a thin, replaceable polymeric liner coveringits inside surface.

In other embodiments, the helmet further comprises a detachable gogglestrap disposed on a rearward portion of the helmet.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims, ormay be learned by the practice of the invention as set forthhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are nottherefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a side elevational perspective view of a helmet and detachedprotective shield in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1B is an upper elevational perspective view of a helmet withattached protective shield in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a helmet inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of a protective shield for a helmetin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of a helmet in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of a helmet and detached protectiveshield in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a forward elevational perspective view of a helmet anddetached protective shield in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a helmet and detached protectiveshield in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details areprovided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of theinvention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, thatthe invention may be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. Inother instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are notshown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of theinvention.

FIG. 1A is a side elevational perspective view of a helmet 100 anddetached protective shield in accordance with the present invention. Thehelmet 100 comprises a helmet 102, a helmet shield 104, a cantileveredlip 106, and an inner surface 108.

The helmet is well-known to those of skill in the art, and generallycomprises a bulbous polymeric shell which surrounds and protects auser's head. The helmet 102 differs from traditional helmets in that,inter alia, it has a recessed outer surface for receiving the helmetshield 104 (or protective shield 104), and may comprise means fordetachably connecting, adhering, or fastening the helmet shield 104 tothe helmet 102. Those means may include screws, Velcro, adhesive,magnets, snaps, or the cantilevered lip 106 as shown.

The cantilevered lip 106 comprises an alloy or polymeric ridge whichjuts roughly orthogonally inward from the inner surface of the helmetshield 104. This cantilevered lip 106 engages a corresponding edge ofthe helmet 102, thus securing the helmet shield 104 to the helmet 102.

In the shown embodiment, the helmet shield 104 comprises a rubber,polymeric or elastomeric shell which surrounds or partially surrounds orenvelopes the helmet 102. This helmet shield 104 may be translucent orcolored. It may bear logos or distinctive identifiers for associating awearer/user with a particular team or organization. It may bearaesthetic markings for color-coordinating the helmet 100 with a user'souterwear.

FIG. 1B is a upper elevational perspective view of a helmet 120 withattached protective shield in accordance with the present invention. Thehelmet 120 comprises a helmet 102 and a helmet shield 104.

The shown embodiment 120 represents the helmet 100 in its assembled, orattached, configuration, with the helmet shield 104 detachably affixedto the helmet 102.

FIG. 2A is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a helmet 200in accordance with the present invention. The helmet 200 comprises asurface 108, snaps 202 a-c, a screw 204, a recessed groove 206, aprotrusion 208, and an edge 210.

The exterior surface 108 of the helmet 102 in the shown embodimentcomprises a groove running, or defines a recess, running laterallyaround the perimeter of the helmet 102 for receiving a correspondinglip, protrusion or contour on the inner surface of the protective shield104.

The helmet 102 comprises snaps 202 a-c, which in the shown embodiment,comprise male snap members for engaging corresponding female snapmembers on the protective shield 104.

The screw 204 is insertably affixed into a bore hole in the helmet 102.The helmet 102 may comprise a plurality of bore holes or screw holes andscrews 204 for securing the protective shield 104 to the helmet 102.

The edge 210 of the helmet 102 is engaged by the cantilevered lip of theprotective shield 104.

Additionally or alternatively, the helmet 102 may comprise one or moreprotrusions 208 which jut outward from the convex surface of the helmet102 and extrude into a recess on the inner surface of the protectiveshield, thus preventing forward, rear, and lateral slippage of theprotective shield 104 in its affixed configuration. The helmet 102 mayalso comprise one or more magnets or iron plates for attractingcorresponding magnets affixed to or within the protective shield 104.

The protrusion 208 may comprise a Velcro pad, a magnet, or polymericprotrusion forming part of an integrated piece with the helmet 102.

The recessed groove 206 may also serve to secure and stabilize thestretched elastic band of ski goggles, lights, or other items withstraps stretched over the helmet 102.

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of a protective shield 220 for ahelmet in accordance with the present invention. The protective shield220 comprises an aperture 222, a snap 224, a magnet 226, and a recess228.

The protective shield 220 may comprise one or more magnets 226 forengaging corresponding magnets, metals or alloys on the helmet 102. Theprotective shield may also define or comprise holes for receiving ascrew 204 traversing the protective shield 200. The protective shield104 may also comprise male or female snap members 224, as well as one ormore recesses for receiving corresponding protrusions 208.

FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of a helmet 300 in accordance withthe present invention. The helmet 300 comprises a helmet 102 and snaps202 a-c, and visor 304.

The helmet 300 may comprise a visor 304 which extending in cantileveredfashion forward of the helmet 102.

FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of a helmet 320 and detachedprotective shield in accordance with the present invention. The helmet320 comprises a helmet 102, a protective shield 104, a visor 304, and aliner 322.

As shown, the helmet shield 104 may vary in its shape, purpose anddimensions. It may also circumscribe, or envelope, only a portion of thehelmet 102.

In the shown embodiment, the helmet shield 104 comprises the visor 304,and the helmet 320 is a dirt-biking helmet. The helmet 320 may be amotorcycling helmet, a hardhat, a skiing helmet, riot gear helmet,football helmet, or the like.

In the shown embodiment, the helmet shield 104 snaps to the helmet 102.

Some embodiments of the present invention comprise a liner 322, whichcomprises a thin film of elastomeric, silicone or polymeric materiallaid between the helmet shield 104 and the helmet 102. The liner 322 maybe affixed to the helmet 102 or the helmet shield 104. The liner 322protects the helmet 102 from wear imposed by the helmet shield 104. Insome embodiments, the liner 322 defines holes, apertures or passagewaysfor accommodating screws 204 and the like. The liner 322 may be from 0.1millimeters to 2 centimeters in thickness. In some embodiments, theliner 322 adds additional padding and impact protection to the helmet.

FIG. 4 is a forward elevational perspective view of a helmet 400 anddetached protective shield in accordance with the present invention. Thehelmet 400 comprises a helmet 102, a helmet shield 104, a screw 204, anda protrusion 208.

The helmet 400 comprises a ski helmet. The protective shield 104 affixesover the top of the helmet 102, and is screwed in place.

In some embodiments, the helmet 320 comprises a plurality of protectiveshields 104 which may be interchangeable affixed to the helmet 102. Invarious embodiments, these protective shield(s) 104 differ in thickness,rigidity, and strength such that a user may customize the strength ofthe helmet 320 to suit particularized needs.

In some embodiments, a plurality of protective shields 104 may beaffixed on top of one another, in stackable fashion, to give a user evenmore control over strength and helmet 320 rigidity.

The protrusion 208 in the shown embodiment is Velcro.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a helmet 500 and detachedprotective shield in accordance with the present invention. The helmet500 comprises a helmet 102, a helmet shield 104, and a goggle strap 502.

The helmet shield 104 may itself comprise a plurality of detachableimplements, such a handle 502.

The goggle strap 502 in the shown embodiment is polymeric and flexible.The goggle strap 502 is detachably affixed to the helmet 102 usingscrews, snaps, buttons, buckles, or other fasteners known to those ofskill in the art.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective helmet comprising: a helmet having asmooth convex recessed outer surface for receiving an inner surface of areciprocally contoured protective shield; a rigid detachable protectiveshield for engaging and enveloping the recessed outer surface of thehelmet, the protective shield comprising: a concave inner surface havinginner contouring for engaging and abutting the reciprocal contouring onthe outer surface of the helmet; wherein the protective shield definesone or more apertures for receiving screws, the screws affixing theprotective shield to the helmet.
 2. The protective helmet of claim 1,wherein the outer surface of the helmet further comprises one or moreprotrusions insertable into recesses defined on the inner surface of theprotective shield for securing the protective shield when attached tothe helmet.
 3. The protective helmet of claim 1, wherein the protectivehelmet is one of a football helmet, a motorcycle helmet, a skiinghelmet, a biking helmet, and a hardhat worn by construction workers. 4.The protective helmet of claim 1, further comprises a plurality ofdetachable protective shields, the protective shields interchangeable bya user at will.
 5. The protective helmet of claim 4, wherein eachprotective shield is of a different color.
 6. The protective helmet ofclaim 4, wherein each protective shield is of a different thickness andinterchangeable to add varying tiers of strength to the helmet.
 7. Aprotective helmet comprising: a helmet having a convex recessed outersurface for receiving an inner surface of a reciprocally contouredprotective shield; and a rigid detachable protective shield for engagingand enveloping the recessed outer surface of the helmet, the protectiveshield comprising: a concave inner surface having inner contouring forengaging and abutting the reciprocal contouring on the outer surface ofthe helmet.
 8. The protective helmet of claim 7, wherein the protectiveshield is detachably affixed to the helmet using one or more of snaps,buttons, Velcro®, adhesive, magnets, and screws.
 9. The protectivehelmet of claim 7, wherein the protective shield further comprises acantilevered lip for engaging and gripping a reciprocally contoured edgeon the helmet.
 10. The protective helmet of claim 7, wherein theprotective shield further comprises a visor jutting forward of thehelmet.
 11. The protective helmet of claim 7, wherein the protectiveshield further comprises a graphic design indicating a user'saffiliation with a team.
 12. The protective helmet of claim 7, whereinthe protective shield further comprises one or more reflectors.
 13. Theprotective helmet of claim 7, wherein the protective shield istransparent and meant to protect the helmet from scratching and wear.14. The protective helmet of claim 7, wherein the outer surface of thehelmet defines a groove running laterally around the perimeter of thehelmet for receiving or corresponding lip on the inner surface of theprotective shield.
 15. The protective helmet of claim 7, wherein theprotective shield comprises one or more of polymeric materials,elastomeric materials, carbon fiber materials, silastic materials, andmetal alloys.
 16. The protective helmet of claim 7, wherein theprotective shield is skinned with a multicolored graphic design.
 17. Theprotective helmet of claim 7, wherein the protective shield furthercomprises a thin, replaceable polymeric liner covering its insidesurface.
 18. The protective helmet of claim 7, wherein the helmetfurther comprises a detachable goggle strap disposed on a rearwardportion of the helmet.
 19. A protective helmet comprising: a helmethaving a convex recessed outer surface for receiving an inner surface ofa reciprocally contoured protective shield; and a rigid detachableprotective shield for engaging and enveloping the recessed outer surfaceof the helmet, the protective shield comprising: a concave inner surfacehaving inner contouring for engaging and abutting the reciprocalcontouring on the outer surface of the helmet; wherein the protectiveshield is detachably affixed to the helmet using one or more of snaps,buttons, Velcro®, adhesive, magnets, cantilevered lips, and screws;wherein the protective shield is skinned with a multicolored graphicdesign;